boxingcoaching Archives - BoxriteBoxrite

Bobby Mayne

July 26, 2019

5 Tips how to improve your boxing combos skills

A series of punches thrown nonstop in succession without break in between is commonly known as a combination.

Being a boxing coach watching many rounds of sparring and bouts, I notice boxers place emphasis on scoring with single power punches to knockout an opponent. This is fine if an opponent offers little resistance and is easily hit. But if an opponent had decent ring skills, this would will fatigue a boxer over several rounds becoming vulnerable to counterattacks, resulting from being off balance, and out of position eventually losing the bout.

Bobby Mayne

Boxrite: Successful boxing tactics against Southpaw opponent

Here I will be discussing proven tactics used when sparring or competing against a southpaw boxer. This is a frequent question I get asked at Boxrite. Below are pointers that are not only applicable for boxing but combat sports in general when against a left handed opponent.

Bobby Mayne

July 2, 2019

5 Tips to Improve & Strengthen Left Hook

The left or lead hook is an effective punch every fighter should master, a well-timed hook can have a devastating effect on an opponent. The hook travels a short distance from the start point to the target, making it difficult to defend against. The power is generated from the hip rotating in the direction of the hook transferring the bodyweight from the lead to rear foot. In this blog I will refer to this punch as lead hook because Southpaw stance boxers lead with the right hand.

It takes many hours of training in the gym in developing the hook, initially focus mitt training with the coach to learn correct technique and body mechanics, then undertaking set partner drills including defences against a hook. Punching bag training improves timing and gauging range as the bag sways in different directions, the boxer will use correct footwork to manoeuvre into position and strike the bag with either single lead hooks or combination punches that include the lead hook.

Bobby Mayne

June 25, 2019

7 Benefits of Floor to Ceiling Ball Training in Boxing

The floor to ceiling ball, also known as the double-end bag, is an air-filled ball suspended by elastic cords from the floor and ceiling. Varying in shape and size depending on the boxer’s intended training objectives:

The larger size ball is suited for beginners, being easier to punch at due to the larger and slower target as the cords are not tight.
The smaller ball will move faster, difficult target to hit due to the size and speed from the tightened cords. This ball is suitable for experienced boxers training to improve speed and accuracy when punching.
Floor to ceiling balls vary in shape such as the peanut shaped or connected top and bottom balls offering head and body targets.
Tear drop shaped floor to ceiling balls allow the boxer to focus on angled punches such as hooks and uppercuts.

The tension of the cords effect the movement speed after being struck, if the cord tension is tight the ball will be rebound faster than the cord being slack making the ball move slower.

Bobby Mayne

June 17, 2019

5 Tips for Dealing with Ring Performance Anxiety

Recently, I received correspondence from a young boxer. He is having difficulty applying the skills developed in the gym to sparring and competition, due to excessive nerves and anxiety prior to stepping into the ring.

This feeling of anxiety is caused by adrenaline being produced in the body by the adrenal glands. It plays an important role in the fight-or-flight response from perceived threats by increasing blood flow to muscles, maximizing output of the heart, pupil dilation response, and spike in blood sugar level.

This energy or adrenaline rush heightens our state of alertness along with improving reaction time to either escape from a threat or fight back. The downside effects are that the body is being fatigued and lethargic accompanied with a feeling of nausea when this rush wears off.

The following steps can assist overcoming anxiety before sparring sessions and competition. This takes time depending on the boxer’s ability, development of skillset and demonstrated self-confidence.

Bobby Mayne

June 7, 2019

3 Types of Boxing Sparring for Developing Fighters

Sparring is important in the preparation for a competitive boxer in gaining confidence to apply technical and tactical skills in a controlled, supervised environment.

Prior to a session many rounds would have been spent on focus mitts training with the coach, developing offensive and defensive skills. It is practical in bringing a sense of realism to training, and assess the boxer’s ability to perform set offensive and defensive tasks under pressure, and identify any problem areas that need correcting.

There are 3 types of sparring:

1. Technical
2. Conditional
3. Open (Full Contact)

The type is determined by the coach, depending on the training program phase and ability of the boxer. Use a mouthguard (gum shield) and wear heavier well-padded gloves up to 16oz in weight. Headgear is worn when undertaking conditional sparring, in order to get used to the bulky, tight fitting and restrictive feel of the equipment.

1. Technical

Technical sparring are pre-set partner drills supervised by the coach, training objective is developing technique and improving reaction time not endurance or punching power.

For example: The first boxer will commence the drill with a jab, the second boxer will defend and counter jab. This training will perfect technique without pressure and develop the boxer in reading an oncoming punch without panicking.

Bobby Mayne

June 2, 2019

6 Tips How to Improve Infighting Skills

To dominate your opponent effectively from the inside position is better known as ‘infighting’. This will not influence the judges’ scoring a round. This demonstrates the boxer’s ability of fighting at long range for a taller rangy style boxer, and medium to close range for a shorter boxer.

Infighting is effective when boxers are of similar height and shorter height. To take the inside position a boxer must either:

Set up an attack to close the distance with opponent using similar combinations such as jab, cross and hook to head or body to gain the inside position.
Make opponent punch using tactics such as the feint to draw the opponent to attack then slip opponent’s punch and target their midsection with short Hooks and Uppercuts, switching their attack to the head.

Bobby Mayne

6 Common Styles of Boxers

A boxer’s individual style has evolved from technical skills continually practiced in the gym along with physical and psychological attributes. Physical attributes include height, build and reach and psychological can be aggressive or defensive in nature when competing. Commonly encountered…

Bobby Mayne

8 Benefits of Skipping Rope Training in Boxing

Skipping rope training is beneficial for a boxer’s fitness level along with improving body mechanics and coordination. Noticeable short term benefits include cardio respiratory fitness, muscle strength and endurance.

Include skipping rope training to a boxing workout for developing vital skills required for sparring and competition such as:

Balance
Timing and rhythm
Coordination
Footwork
Agility
Conditioning
Low Impact on Joints
Cardio

Bobby Mayne

May 31, 2019

How to Score a Professional Boxing Round – Part 2

This article continues on how the scoring criteria is applied when judging a boxing bout
Prior to commencement of a boxing bout each judge has to complete the details on the scorecards i.e. boxers names in respective corner, judge’s name and numbering the correct amount of prescribed rounds allocated for the bout, one sheet per round.
After the completion of each round the referee will collect the scorecards from all three judges and hand to the Commission representative to record scores on the tally sheet.
On completion of the final round the referee collects the scorecards and hands to the Commission representative for completion of the tally sheet to determine the result, the final scores will be given to the ring announcer to read out the final scores from each judge to declare the winner.